Genealogy Chat

Bastardy Bonds

This subject has not been on the boards for along time now so thought I would just post this for people who are searching for fathers of illegitimate children,

If an illegitimate child was born in a parish, he or she was liable to be a burden on money for the Poor. So the Overseers of the Poor tried to find out from the mother, before, during (especially), or after the birth who was the father. The father would then have to pay a weekly sums to the mother to support the child, rather than the Overseers funds being used. The Bastardy Bond was therefore an important document in providing evidence as to the parentage of the child.

Bastardy: from the 16th century onwards in England and Wales, the status of a child born to parents who were not married to each other had particular legal and social consequences. These consequences led to the creation of documents which exist today as archives. For example, a bastardy bond or recognisance could oblige the supposed father to appear at the Quarter Sessions or Petty Sessions court, or simply oblige him or another relation to provide for the child so that she or he was not supported by the parish authorities. A bastardy or affiliation order could be made by a Quarter Sessions or Petty Sessions court, requiring the father to pay for the child's upkeep - failure to pay could result in a prison sentence.

Bond: or recognisance. A legal document recording an obligation to pay a sum of money, or acknowledging a present or future debt.


Where to look for Bastardy Bonds:

*Amongst the Parish Poor Law Records
*The Vestry Minute Books;
*The Records of the Quarter Sessions;
*The relevant County Archives Office
*and my best modern day tip of the day is Google,

Roy

n

Roy

Thanks Roy, I've made a note of all the info you've posted, for future reference.
Annette

Thanks for this Roy

Lulli

Thank you Ron

Alison

Thanks for that Ron - a bit like the CSA today!! But I bet they had more luck (lol)

Regards Paula

I am interested in the father of a child born in 1908. Where they still being used then?

Thanks Roy, could be very helpful

Marilyn

Roy


would you know about Scotland?


Thanks

Janey

Jennifer, I no they were still in use in the early 1900s but not sure of a date,

Janey, If you Google their are some results that may answer your question about Scotland better than i can

try puting this: bastardy bonds in Scotland
into Google

as i said in my thread contents, BEST TIP is to use Google to search, its very suprising what comes up

Roy

Bastardy bonds were practically non-existent after 1834, when the poor law legislation changed:

http://tinyurl.com/6o3zle
http://tinyurl.com/6fumxd

Mary, After 1834 they were known as Petty Sessions Bastardy Orders/Quarter Sessions and also reported in some local newspapers,

As i said in my thread contents,

also if anyone puts Bastardy bond into google all the info is their.

Roy

her is an example of a Petty Sessions bastardy order that appered in a local newspaper on 2 January 1852 from the site that mary above quoted

Market Rasen Petty Sessions 29 December 1851
Wm. ATKINSON of Skircoate, Yorkshire, coachman, (defended by Mr. C. INGOLDBY, jun., of Louth), appeared to answer the complaint of Eliza KEYWORTH, of South Owersby, singlewoman, who charged him with being the father of her illegitimate child: order made for 1s. 6d. per week from the 6th, 10s. for the midwife, and costs.

from http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/bastardy_1852.html

Roy

There is a programme starting on Wednesday 20th August at 1.30pm on Radio 4, called Tracing your Roots and they are beginning with a look at Illegitimacy.
Thought I'd mention it, it could help anyone with ancestors who were Illegitimate, I'm one who will definately want to hear what info they give.

Ellen.

Thanks Roy very much


janey x